Wednesday, December 5, 2007

75 YEARS AGO

The 21st amendment to the US Constitution was officially ratified on December 5th, 1933, allowing all of us and or posterity to purchase alcohol legally again. So tonight after work by all means indulge on the alcoholic beverage of your choice and remember the 13 years of suffering that the country endured. As a follow-up post we will ask for your personal favorites when clinking your glasses and toasting.

*Interesting side note, this was the only amendment ever ratified by the “state conventions” method rather than the normal state legistlature method. The amendment was proposed on 2-20-1933 and MICHIGAN proudly became the first state to ratify on April 10, 1933. (we’ve always got that going for us) The amendment did not become LAW until Utah (pause for a moment to consider the irony) became the 36th state of the then 48 to approve, which they did at 5:23 Eastern Time on 12-5-1933, and “Liberty’s Tourch was lighted once more.” President Roosevelt immediately issued a Repeal Proclamation, which like most other drivel from the mouths of democrats, meant nothing.

I will do some additional research for next year's entry. Maybe even a chart of per person consumption rates before, during, and after the Volstead Act. I wonder if way back then they ever made hash marks with permanent ink on the back of the patron's shirt to protect them from being overserved?